John Cusack stars as Edgar Allen Poe in The Raven

Derived from the legendary poem of the same title, director James McTeigue's film version of 'The Raven,' does not actually centre on Poe's literary tale. John Cusack stars as the epic 19th century writer instead, who is the movie's main figure.

Set in Baltimore, the plot is a fictionalized account of the final days of the writer's life.

McTeigue (V for Vendetta) is well known for his action films. 'The Raven' is scheduled for release in March 2012.

Famous for popularizing horror fiction in the 19th century, some English scholars credit Poe with creating the modern mystery novel. He also lived in Baltimore for several years in the 1830s, before meeting his wife, Virginia Clemm.